Chinaman Kuldeep troubles Sri Lanka
Rex Clementine in Calcutta
A stiff shoulder saw leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal sidelined for the second ODI against Sri Lanka here in Calcutta and Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav grabbed the opportunity from both hands as he ran through Sri Lanka’s middle order yesterday. The tourists were shot out for 215 inside 40 overs as Kuldeep claimed three wickets.
Left-arm wrist spinners are a rarity in the sport and Sri Lanka have the habit of making them look unplayable. When the Aussies were in town in 2004, Brad Hogg troubled a much celebrated Sri Lankan line-up forcing then coach John Dyson to send word for all left-arm wrist spinners in the country and get his batsmen face them. They did alright on that instance.
There’s no luxury of doing that this time around as the team is on tour. Lakshan Sandakan was a decent chinaman bowler and there were high hopes when he debuted against Steve Smith’s Australians in 2016, but seven years on, his bowling lacks discipline and the selectors have lost hope.
Sri Lanka were well placed at 102 for one in 17 overs going at six runs an over and a total of over 300 looked on the cards when Kuldeep broke through trapping Mendis leg before wicket for 34. He had looked good, majestically pulling Umran Malik for a six over mid-wicket.
The batsman reviewed and it proved to be a marginal decision – umpire’s call. There have been too many umpires’ calls that have gone against Sri Lanka in this series.From 102 for one, Sri Lanka collapsed to 126 for six as Kuldeep did a lot of damage. He took a return catch to dismiss Charith Asalanka for 15 while captain Dasun Shanaka was cleaned up having made two.
In between Nuwanindu Fernando, who had looked so organized making his debut was run out soon after making his half-century. The batsman had flicked Axar Patel to mid-wicket and set off for the run but there was little response from his partner Asalanka. Shubman Gill collected the ball and returned it to the keeper and Fernando had no chance. But it was a good start by the youngster having replaced
Pathum Nissanka, who was nursing a back niggle.
Wanindu Hasaranga looked to be in good touch racing to 21 off 17 balls with three fours and one six with three of those boundaries coming off a Kuldeep over, who had looked unplayable earlier on. But he threw away his wicket hitting a Umran Malik delivery straight to Axar Patel at backward point. Dunith Wellalage made 32 off 34 and helped the total past 200.
